Raise Your Voice: Interview with Todd Henry on Finding Your Authentic Voice

Key insights from my conversation with Todd Henry about Louder Than Words

• “Cover bands don’t change the world” — At some point you need to make an intuitive leap from emulating other people to have the courage to develop your own voice. Courageous people  weave their influences into something new.
• “Courage means doing the right things even when it’s the uncomfortable thing.” You may not be courageous, but if you want to develop your own voice, you need to be willing to choose courage over comfort.
• "Cultivate your vision, cultivate your sense of identity." When the opportunity presents itself, you’ll be prepared to make an intuitive leap."
• "I am profoundly less interested in legacy than I am about impact.” The best way to make an impact that lasts is to approach every day consistent with the kind of impact you want to have.
• "Your legacy is your body of work.” Your body of work is any place you add value in your life. It’s not just your job— but it’s how you treat your family, lead your family, spend your time. It’s how you sharpen your mind.
• “Run your own race.” Sometimes our influences become burdens to us. Don’t artificially escalate your expectations based on what others around you are doing.
• “Manifesto are active.” It’s impossible to read a manifesto without thinking “I’m in or I’m out.” Rather than a mission or vision statement, a manifesto is active. It forces you to say yes or no. It says the time is now.
• "Your intended audience will change over time.” Create your work for one specific person. It allows you to cultivate empathy as you create.

Change Happens. Respond in grace.

A colleague mentioned how she admired my response to the challenge of change in my business. Change is the gentle term we used when circumstances are stressful. Change happens. Stress (or peace) is our response to it.

After 20 years, I've learned not to panic, to stay calm, to trust. This type of seasoning comes with time; while I may be surprised at events, my heavenly Father never is. 

We're encouraged, commanded, to pray for endurance. You don’t have to be the smartest person at what you do; but if you’re the hardest working you’ll outlast the smarter ones. That takes endurance.

When circumstances change, the path you may need to follow is one of exploration, discovery, and anticipation— not for what you fear may happen, but for what God in his grace has planned—so that we may become vessels of generosity, with our cups overflowing with generosity into the world around us.

I recall this story that Dave Ramsey recounts from Thou Shall Prosper.

The Havdalah service is recited over a cup of wine that runs over into the saucer beneath. This overflowing cup symbolizes the intention to produce during the week ahead not only sufficient to fill one’s own cup, but also an excess that will allow overflow for the benefit of others. In other words, I am obliged to first fill my cup and then continue pouring as it were, so that I will have sufficient to give away to others, thus helping to jump-start their own efforts. (Lapin, 150).

For the business owner and entrepreneur, every day is a challenge. In spite of the challenges, I'm determined to create enough wealth so I can give some of it away to others.

Sometimes your journey takes you down a path for which there is no map. You are neither leader or follower, but explorer.

Change is certain. How you respond to it reveals your character and sharpens your focus. The things that matter take priority; the non-essential becomes secondary.

Change forces you to align your plans more closely with your purpose. Beyond the uncertainty of change is the potential for unrealized opportunity.

I think that's what carpe diem really means. Seize the opportunity in the changes each day brings. How others see you respond to it may bring grace into someone else's life.

Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow

Having spent significant time over the practicing and performing in a seasonal show (OK it was Christmas), I've come away with more observations about serving within church culture. As always, these aren't complaints, but observations. They don't apply to all churches, but to the Church (let's call it Christendom) in general.*

• As much as I appreciate the opportunity to participate and get to know a few more people, I'm not sure it's been a worthwhile time investment. Perhaps we believers need to be more discerning with our choices of where we serve, especially in church. 
• One needs to decide if the time investment will yield a significant enough impact and return. We should make our decisions based on where our gifts are valued, appreciated, and make the greatest impact.
• Feeling under-utilized leads to discouragement.
• The arts consume an inordinate amount of time, compared to the amount of time spent in service. Practice takes time. Other than preaching, is there another area of service where the ratio of prep to time spent delivering is so high?
• Church culture is can be tough to crack, and a challenge to be accepted. Have you ever wanted to serve, and you know you're capable, but don't seem to fit into the culture? The church wants people to serve, it just doesn't seem capable of assimilating them into areas of service in meaningful ways.
• The church seems interested in quantity of people serving, not necessarily quality, competence, giftedness or capabilities. There often seems to be little interest in understanding what one's gifts are, and where the individual might best serve. There's no point in asking individuals to take spiritual gift surveys, if church leaders aren't going to pay attention to them. 
• What is of primary importance to the church isn't necessarily top priority for its people. 
• The Church knows best. Outside opinions and outsiders aren't quickly welcomed, even if the outside experience will enhance the opportunity for others to serve, and the quality of their service.
• Serving isn't only about meaning for the one who serves. For those who are served, even the  smallest contribution is noticed, and adds to their experience of being served.
• The expectations of the one who serves is often different than the expectations of church leadership.
• Every little gift matters, whether it's the gift you've been given, or the gift you have to give.
• It's not about me — or you. John the Baptist reminds us that "he must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." Our participation in service should be meaningful and fulfilling, but it's goal is to reveal Christ and his grace. 
• We need to check our egos, and lead through serving. 
• Community and common bonds are strengthened and deepened through shared service. Leaders need to know their team members, and understand how to integrate them into the area of service they have responsibility for. If you don't know your people, you may be missing out on fully utilizing the talent that people want to share.

*Your experience may vary. Opinions expressed by this writer are observational and may not reflect your actual experience with church culture. Then again, they may. This is why God pours grace into your life every day, so that you may endure and be strengthened during the challenges you face serving—and give grace to those serving alongside you. After all, it's about Christ, not you.

The personality of church culture

Have you ever noticed that the culture of a church or ministry is a distinct reflection of the personality traits of its primary leader?

There are many clues; some obvious and others subtle. Most churches are a combination of what follows, watch closely and you'll see it in your church. I've categorized a few:

• Control Culture: The leader seeks to have input into, or control every aspect of ministry. Evidence of this type of culture is in staff and volunteers who feel pressure that their performance is never good enough. This feeling is compounded by the leader's weakness in interpersonal communication skills, lack of accountability, and unapproachable nature.
• Numbers Culture: Evidence for relevance is driven by numbers: numbers of attendees; numbers of small groups; numbers of children in ministries; the amount donated on a weekly basis. Numbers matter more than relationships. Closely related to the Pedestal Culture.
• Cowardice Culture: Evidenced by the use of executive pastor or staff to deliver bad news at direction of senior pastor. Senior pastor refuses to accept responsibility or be accountable for bad decision making.
• Last-minute culture: All execution is last minute, even if planning is done months in advance. Most likely, planning and execution are done last minute. Little regard given for personal schedules of volunteers, and possibility of previously scheduled events.
• Only my Ministry Matters Culture: Intra-church ministries and teams do not compare calendars, and cross-schedule events. So much for the idea of a body working together.
• Pedestal Culture: Senior and executive staff who exhibit reclusive behavior, rarely interacting with "the flock," as if the very activity is beneath them, and perhaps best left for a pastoral care professional. Difficult for these individuals to come down off their pedestal and get a different perspective.
• Excuse Culture: "Oh, it's because he's a musician." It's because he's a big picture individual." "It's because he's the teaching pastor." "It's because we're short-staffed."
• The Miscommunication Culture: How can the church communicate the gospel, if it can't even communicate internally well?

Oh, I could go on, but it makes me tired just thinking of all the reasons why churches are so dysfunctional, and how they could be better. If only our leaders would listen as much as they talk!

How you think and what you think about matters

God is very interested in how we think. King David said in Psalm 139 v2 – You know my thoughts even when I'm far away... such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand."

God appeals to our minds and to our intellect. He is concerned with what we think about.

In Colossians 3:2 Paul writes "Think of the things of heaven, not the things of this earth." In Philippians he writes: "Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, and right, and pure and lovely and admirable."

God wants to guard our hearts and minds.

He sums it up in Romans 12:2 – "Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."

God is concerned with how we think.

Such wonderful knowledge!

Writing a story worth telling

I started a new volume in my journal today.

Volume One was started in 1990, and it took roughly a decade to fill. Volume Two was stated in 2010, and it took 12 years to fill. This edition will be Volume Three – and we'll see how long it takes to fill.

I began this one differently. I wrote:

"When you let the Lord be the author of your life, he writes a story worth telling."

It's a phrase I heard at church last week, and it resonated with me. It's not a new perspective.  But as a visual artist, storytelling through words is relatively new to me, even though I help the people I work with tell their stories every day.

Sometimes the author is able to begin the story from a blank page. In our lives, we find ourselves at a place where we want the story that is being written to be different, to have a happier ending, or from a different perspective. The author has no choice, but to start a new story that follows the narrative that's already been told.

I'm opting for a new author, and a new perspective.

Thanks for nothing

Do you serve in a ministry? When was the last time you were thanked? Do you lead a ministry? When was the last time one of the church leadership thanked you for your volunteer service?

Have you ever been asked to do something, with the assumption that you would because you're a "brother in Christ?" Did you do it, only to feel unappreciated because the other person didn't express their gratitude?

Pastors and leaders need to remind themselves, and their congregations, that even though it it's God's desire for us to serve one another, everyone needs to be grateful for that service.

Don't take your congregation's service for granted, and don't dare to use guilt or misplaced exhortations to motivate them. Lead by example. If your words affirm your actions, then we'll consider following your lead.

So exactly what would Jesus do?

Two thoughts to consider; not aligned but obliquely related. Please note, that if the points in this article share any resemblance to personal behavior or situations with which you are familiar, it is purely coincidental. But feel free to share it if you're afraid to talk to that person or group about it.

First, why does one leave a church? I suppose when it comes down to it, there are many reasons:

• Environmental (too dark, too loud, don't like the music, too long)
• Theological (too much topical preaching, inaccurate interpretation of scripture)
• Social (not connecting with the community, too many cliques, judgmental culture)
• Cultural (too focused on attraction and not enough on the building up of the body, too charismatic, not charismatic enough, too emotional, not balanced)
• Personal (He/she did/didn't do/not do something).

Have I left out any? Of course I have. The churches across America (and I suppose the world – but here in the US, we are particularly keen on our own selfish desire for a church where we "fit.") are filled with people who have left other churches, or will eventually leave the church they are attending. We all carry the baggage from one church to the next, piling it on top of our spiritual experience and attempting to maintain a relationship with Christ while we juggle the load and attempt to unpack the baggage so we can move on. (Have you ever wondered how that looks to an nonbeliever?).

Lifers are the exception to the rule. Church lifers will stay at a church, believing that they will either make a difference in that church (despite all evidence and experience to the contrary), or that they will outlast whatever leadership or cultural shift has occurred or is occurring. They just have to endure, because it's their church.

Ultimately, the only reason people ever leave a church is because of the leadership – including pastors, teachers, elders, deacons – or whatever post-modern leadership structure the executive management of the church has decided to setup. Leaders create the culture, make the decisions, and affect the relationship their congregation has with them is so many ways. It's unavoidable.

Even Jesus did not tolerate the leadership of the Jewish church (let's not assume that the church of Jesus' day was the same as ours – it was strictly Jewish). The Pharisees had their own ideas of morality, religiosity and faith – and expected their followers to adhere to that vision. There was no room for an individual relationship and support of that personal relationship from the leadership.

It's not so different in many churches today. Would Jesus tolerate the behavior and attitude of your church leadership (or you, if you're a church leader reading this?). It is an inescapable fact that the culture of a church is an expression of its pastor, pastoral staff and in some instances, its congregational leadership. It's leadership that influences the factors in the list at the beginning of this article.

Second, why do we think that other people are validated in their faith, only if they are serving in a manner we judge to be worthy?

Some will claim they must serve because "Jesus said they must," or that it's out of obedience, or that they are guilty.

We're called to serve out of love. Not love of serving, but love for God through Christ. We should obey because we love, not obey to prove our love. A legalistic, law-driven approach to service (I scored points today because I served!) is completely contrary to grace – expressed in a relationship where I love and serve as an expression of that relationship with Christ and love for Christ. It's the truest form of worship – our spiritual service – because I am responding to who God is and what he's done in my life through Jesus Christ.

Some people love to serve in ways that affect individuals on a one-to-one basis. Others choose to serve in ways that have greater impact that is just as valid. The key is, not everybody serves in the same way, and not every individual is gifted for every service opportunity, and that's OK. Don't forget, we are one body, made up of many parts.

If church leadership neglects to encourage people to serve outside of the church and its chosen programs, then the leadership (and the congregation) have completely missed the point of the gospel. We are to be salt and light in the world. There are many organizations that provide opportunities to serve, but since we can't get past the fact that they aren't called ministries, we don't consider them valid. In fact, I think Jesus would say "You know, the gospel is just part of the story. There's a lot of history about my Father and his love for humanity, his relationship with Israel, the glory of creation, the beauty of relationship. If you're only concerned with sharing the gospel, you're missing the point. I want you to be an ambassador for me wherever you go, wherever you serve. Represent me. While you're at it, mention that I came to reconcile people to myself, and you want to share this message of reconciliation." (2 Cor 5:17-20).

If a church's leadership does not value the service of an individual, and by extension the members of its congregation – especially if the service is outside of the officially endorsed church service opportunities – then the congregation will carry that same attitude in their relationships with others in the faith. This is how Pharisees are created.

Church leaders have a solemn obligation to create a culture where service flows from relationship with the Savior; from grace and not guilt. Equipping your congregation to serve and be examples of service means that you will embrace and encourage opportunities for service – especially outside of your church.

Church leaders need to recognize and support those who take personal risk and initiative to volunteer for leadership positions. Do not fail by assuming that you as a pastor are the only one who knows how to be a leader. Don't play favorites, and don't set your congregation up for failure.

Don't make Pharisees. Teach people to be ambassadors. Then, by God's grace, they will make disciples.

On topical preaching

Perhaps you will recognize this pattern. You see a slide on the screen on Sunday morning, and a catchy graphic appears, with a title that alludes to some topic or theme, but you can't figure out what scripture that it pertains to.

Perhaps the topic references something that is current in popular culture. perhaps there is some motivational aspect to it. Perhaps it's some broad scriptural theme, such as "Worship" or "Thanksgiving."

In your heart you  because you know that the sermon series will be based on the speaker's opinion, and reflect what books he's been reading (or writing) and not exposition of scripture. There'll be one minute of Scripture reading and 30+ minutes of talking about what the speaker thinks about how the topic relates to the scripture, and not how the Scripture itself relates to our lives.

This is topical preaching. It's the equivalent of preaching  "because Jesus breathed, you should breathe to."

Sadly, the speaker may not recognize it, thinking that they are meaningfully sharing insights that the Lord has revealed in their deep time of study (which of course, as they are quick to allude to, is much deeper and more intense than yours).

Be encouraged. Breathe deep. Pray for patient endurance. Perhaps the music will lift you up today instead of the sermon.

If not, there's always sermon cloud.

Learning to wait on God

When my wife and I attend a church, we like to serve. For the last 6 years, we've served in youth and in worship arts areas of a local church, enthusiastically as leaders.

Yet, we sensed that our time at this particular church was complete – that we had been called to the church for a season – and that time was over.

As individuals and families, we're drawn to a church through the relationships we have. Friends, family, acquaintances give us a familiar face to look for when we first attend as a guest. As we get to know more people, it becomes more like family. As we start to serve, we become more like staff – and the relational aspect has the potential to change. It's the last stage that can bring joy and sorrow into our lives, if the relationships are not maintained, if trust is not established early on. We lose sight of relationships when programs become more important than people.

But now it's time to move on, we've been lead to a different church, pastored by one of the most humble and self-deprecating individuals I've had the privilege of knowing. He and his wife are dear friends; we've known them for years – we trust them and are confident in his exposition of God's Word.

But what's different this time, is that instead of jumping in and volunteering, we're going to – even need to – wait. And I'm OK with that.

God asks us to wait for Him, to listen to Him, and to obey Him. We're going to be guests again, as we get to know a new family.

Ideas for art in the church

A college friend, who pastors a church, recently asked for my input on how art can help inspire, encourage and challenge.  It's taken me some time, but here are some thoughts.  To start, here's his initial question:

"The church is in a 10-year-old metal building. Everything's gray! I'm working on bringing some color into the building. Over the last few years, I have become much more sensitive to how art can inspire and encourage, not to speak of how art can challenge and "preach." But in wanting to bring art i.e., painting, sculpture, etc., into the church, I'm at a loss as to how to begin to create a plan for this or to create a financial provision for it. Looking for guidance…"

Here's what I suggest:

First, read through these books to get yourself into a proper mindset about art and the church.   One of the reasons that churches don't have much art in them is that the Church, in large part, abandoned the arts long ago, substituting sentimental popular culture for artistic depth.  If art of any kind couldn't be used for Sunday school or evangelism, it was deemed not worthy and largely ignored. Some churches create complex graphic and environmental themes to support sermon series, but they are no substitute for art in our lives – in our churches, our homes and in our spirits.

HR Rookmaker's Art needs no justification is an excellent treatise on how the Church (and Christians) has lowered its aesthetic standards,, and failed to interact with contemporary culture in a meaningful way (preferring to mimic an copy, rather than being original).

Schaeffer's Art and the Bible  is a superb work.  One of the most significant, and shortest, works on art ever written.

Current books on art and Christian faith can be found at Square Halo Books. I recommend It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God.

I feel your pain: my office is in a building on battleship gray and glass.  Were it not for the light and the color we've added; it would be thoroughly depressing.

Your environment, your existing architecture can be treated as art. Starting with color is a good place. Create BIG panels of color by staining 4x8 sheets of plywood with rich, deep color stains (not paint) to accent the industrial feel of the building – allowing the texture of the wood to show through. It doesn't need to, but as a metaphor it can speak to the beauty and transparency of grace and God's revealing work in our lives. A main panel covered in vibrant red can be a focal point to bring to the attention of the church family and to visitors the sacrifice of His blood that was made. Avoid kitsch references to any color-based evangelism tools such as color books. Remember, art needs no justification.

Too many churches try to appear so polished, so perfect, that their environment becomes merely a stage for a production and an entertainment venue; a whitewashed imitation of what the Church can be.  Art should be authentic, not amateur.  The environment in your church is spatial art. It's architecture.  If it's metal and industrial, don't try to hide it, accentuate it.

One idea to consider – (I'd love to see you do it), and done in a very small way, is to mount a series of mirrors, circular (which will look great on square walls).  Choose a series of words, or phrases such as Redeemed, I am one whom Jesus loves, Forgiven.  Have them cut in vinyl that looks like frosted glass and mounted on the mirror, and hang them on the panels, centered.  Then when an individual looks in the mirror, they see the message direct from scripture, the word that reminds them of their standing or potential in Christ.

What can you do with light, especially natural light? I am mystified by churches that so thoroughly darken a worship environment.  We worship a God of light! Why must we worship him in the dark? Light encourages the building of relationships between familiar friends and with visitors; it allows us to read the Word while it is being preached.

Art is for (God's) glory and for beauty; in Exodus the art of the tabernacle was to enhancement the environment of worship (my favorite are the pomegranates). God told Moses that he filled Bezalel with his Spirit in order to create works of art for the tabernacle. In the Hebrew it indicates he will think of what he wants to create (even though God told him exactly what he wanted), and to have the skill to create them.

Next we'll discuss specific types of art.  That's more of a challenge, and topic for another article. The environment is the first place to start, it's the canvas upon which art will hang; in which art will create an atmosphere of beauty.

Watching your (Christian) language

It's no wonder the Church struggles to communicate effectively with the rest of humanity.  It invents words and creates terms that are only understood by those who invent them, in an effort to sound relevant and in an attempt to be (pre) inclusive.

Unbelievers have become "pre-christian." Outreach has become "missional." In an effort to grow in numbers at the expense of our congregation's spiritual depth we have become "attractional." Programs have replaced community, production has replaced authenticity. Bonhoeffer spins in his grave.

The Bible gives us the language we need, there is no need to invent anything new. We are ambassadors, living in a culture to which we do not belong; despairing over issues that the Church abandoned long ago (as indicated by Rookmaker in Art Needs No Justification). We have one task: reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

We need not complicate our task by pretending to speak the language of the culture we live in, when in reality the words we use are foreign to those for whom they are intended. A true ambassador learns the language and culture in which they are living. We must do the same and quit speaking "Christianese."

When the Church is the center of the universe

In the 16th and 17th century, both Copernicus and Galileo asserted that the earth moved around the sun.  Of course, the church's opinion that the sun revolved around the earth contradicted the scientific facts, and Galileo was placed under house arrest and forbidden to publish any of his research ever again.

Such a historical story serves as a historical and contemporary metaphor as well; namely that the center of the universe is not the earth, but to many, it is the Church.  (of course it really should be Christ, but we all know what it's like to argue with the church at times).

I've touched on this theme previously, that unless our passion and interests are the same as the Church's they don't seem to matter. Yet if the Church were to realize that there is a place of balance, a place where it is as interested in my life as I am in its life, a wonderful balance occurs.

Our individual calling and service may touch upon the programs and mission of our local congregations, but – here's the part the Church as a whole seems to miss – our individual callings most likely will include other interests outside of the Church.

Even our Christ-related activities are church-centered: if someone from the Church wants to meet with us, often they call us to them; we serve in the Church, at the Church, for the Church. For all that time we spend serving, little time is given from the Church to the relationships we need to form in order to belong, to find community – sadly in the context of serving. How well do we know each other, even when we serve together? How well do those who pastor and shepherd the body of Christ really know the members?  To know the people one must get outside the confines of the Church, spend time equipping and knowing and speaking with.  Consider that Jesus spent more time outside of the synagogue than in it.  If you're a pastor – when was the last time you visited any of those who are closely aligned with your ministry either at their home or in their business?

How ironic that in my profession, I can confidently say I belong to and am a member of the business community – but in the Church the same sense of community does not often exist. (especially not in the way Bonhoeffer thought of community) (Boenhoeffer's Life Together)

Community comes from spending time together, getting to know one another in order to share common interests, common passions, common service. It comes from praying together, being authentic with each other, even from disagreeing with each other. We are the people who share the passion for the cause – people who are flawed, who are busy, who are the center of their own lives, no matter how much evidence there is that the earth revolves around the sun.

If we don't feel like we belong, we aren't going to feel like we want to give, to serve, to love.  There is a give and take that must occur – If the Church were to show more interest in its people, they in return will show more interest in the cause.

When your ministry vision becomes a grind

I visited a colleagues's blog today (he's a pastor), and saw that it had become the equivalent of a twitter feed.

In fact, it was a twitter feed – I recall seeing the same posts on Twitter.

I'm curious to ask: In the long run, has his desire to write become part of the grind? Has what was once exciting become a chore? How does he sustain his passion for writing?

Of course, life's like that, for both church leaders and volunteers. While the pastors and teachers are the gifts to the church for equipping the saints (Ephesians 4:11-13), we need to remember to encourage our leaders... we need more sharp individuals and fewer dullards in the church.

Crazy about the numbers

Churchianity drives me crazy.  Talking about discipleship but evaluating a program based on numbers drives me really crazy.

Why is it all about numbers? Where is the depth in the American church? Three years ago, Willow Creek's research revealed that their emphasis on programming over relationships had failed. Has it really been like this for over 30 years?

Focusing on quantity over quality is a sign that spiritual growth has been replaced by a measurement of success.  The church sees the tantalizing numbers of early Acts, and want the same for their own ministries.

Paul states in I Cor 3:6:

 ⁵ After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. ⁶ I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. ⁷ It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. ⁸ The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. ⁹ For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
 ¹⁰ Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. (New Living Translation).

Can we presume then, by a measurement of numbers, that if a program isn't growing numerically, that God isn't in it?  Must we value activity for activity's sake to evaluate success?

It's easier to count numbers and declare that a ministry is growing than to spend time evaluating it from within to determine if true discipleship is occurring and spiritual growth is happening.

I propose that growth can occur even if numbers don't increase.  How do we measure influence and impact? How can we measure significance?

I can't recall any Scripture that states that God's goal or measure of evaluation in the body is numeric growth, but depth of growth:

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. (Eph 3:17, NLTse)

Church leaders, if a program doesn't seem to be growing, are you equipping your staff and volunteer leadership to help it grow?  Have you spent enough time in the program to see where the growth is really occurring before creating an artificial measurement of success?  As pastors and teachers are gifts to the church (the body of Christ) for the purpose of equipping, so are church leaders the gifts to the staff and program leaders – pastors and volunteers alike.

Equip us before you evaluate us.  Then we're all working toward the same goal, and being evaluate by a common standard – and with the same purpose!

Pay me to play?

Not too long ago, I had a conversation with a worship leader about the practice of paying musicians who serve on worship teams. Initially, I was surprised by the practice, as I've never ever been in a church that pays its musicians. But it may not be such a bad idea.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think for a minute that people should ever be paid to serve. Paying musicians sets a precedent for paying every volunteer, and that's not what service is about. Even if it were offered, I don't think I would accept it (there are plenty of underfunded ministries in most churches, particularly youth groups, that can use the money). Personally I don't need the money; I know plenty of professional musicians who are far better than I am and would do a far better job. If paid to play, then I'm not truly serving out of my love for God and a desire use my gifts in service.

Paying musicians would create an expectation of performance: if you are paid to play, you will be prepared; you will know your music; you will have listened to the worship set before you arrive for rehearsal. If you're not prepared, it's quickly evident, and if you're not scheduled to pay you won't get paid.

If you're like me, you serve because there is an area in the church that aligns with your gifts. You believe you have something to contribute, to the greater good, the Cause, and that by participating you're being obedient to your calling.  if nothing else, I'm prepared because that's important to me – my personal integrity is aligned with my sense of responsibility to my fellow musicians.

Just having the gifts isn't enough. The most suitable individuals to participate on a worship team may not always be the best musicians, but in a team may show surprising ability to contribute to the whole. Too often the attitude and condition of the heart are overlooked in the supposed "need" of a certain number of musicians; the effect that one individual can have on a team can be very demotivating. A right heart and musical talent is a powerful combination.

I don't want to get paid. I want to serve as a musician because I love to play music; to honor God by using these gifts before the congregation is a very high calling. We are all leaders when we are at practice or when we are on stage before the congregation or in the daily grind of life, and it's dishonoring to God if we're not prepared. Ultimately we're playing for an audience of One. Never more, never less.

I want to serve in worship in an environment where the team is valued over the individual; where we lift one another up when we are weak in our abilities and and in our faith; where everyone is ready to play and tech is ready to go when it's time to rehearse. Waiting for everybody to get ready is demotivating; my time is valuable to, please respect it.

Where exactly should we serve?

Thinking today about service. Purposefully avoiding where possible the word "ministry," it's so institutional, and limits us.  No criticisms intended here, just observations.

I know many believers who have a deep and active faith relationship with God, but don't serve in their churches.

I know many ministry professionals have a deep and active faith relationship with God, and spend all their time in church-related activities.

I know many believers who serve in their church, and are active in the community – outside of the church – volunteering in nonprofits.

I just can't help but think that serving in the church is not enough, but it's outside where we have the greatest impact.  Inside the church, the gifts we were given – the pastors, teachers, evangelists – were given for the building up of the body, to do his work – so we can grow in Christ and serve. (Eph 4:11-13).

The church seems to project the expectation that all of a believer's activities must be church-related, but that's missing the point. The gospel is just part of God's story, and it always has been – it's in moving beyond the milk, beyond the cake – where our roots grow deep into God's marvelous love, where we can break out of the confines of piety and serve in the world we live in, in the fulness of the redeemed relationship we have with our Father.

Some are called to serve inside the church. Some are called to serve outside the church, and some are called to serve in both places. Where are you called? Regardless, we're called to serve.

Remembering my Father

My father, Gordon, has never been one for sentimentality; and he's still alive, I'm just thinking about him today because he's several states away. Remembering. So let's not go getting all emotional.

In today's culture, our family is an anomaly. My parents are still happily married after 50 years, and gave me and my brothers an example of faithfulness and steadfastness that we all model in our own families. What he and my mother have shown us, my children will carry on.

My dad (let's not be formal) is a man of remarkable strength and creativity. He never watched sports, or listened to music, or played golf -- instead his hobbies have been those of craftsmanship and creativity. His interests are broad and varied, and include antique clock repair and restoration (both the mechanical and woodworking aspects), woodworking, leaded glass design, raising Nishigi koi, raising bonsai, Vespa restoration (and riding!), and making fountain pens (from the raw materials). He learned from reading, book after book, night after night.

I've learned honesty, authenticity, integrity, loyalty and wisdom from him. He has taught me what it means to have character, and how character applies to everything.

He taught us a long time ago that "children are the result of a marriage, and not the reason for it."  We're raising our children to be independent, just as he and my mother did with us.  My wife and I make time for dates and time for each other, because our marriage is about us, not the kids. (Although we love them and are so thankful for them!)

He is more light-hearted since a life-threatening accident over 10 years ago, which only slowed him down for a few weeks after major brain surgery and reconstruction. Recently he had to have surgery again, to care for some long-term after effects... The surgeon removed some titanium hardware from his head, so he made some earrings from the titanium plates for Lisa. I love his sense of humor!

Now that he is retired, Each new day with him is a blessing. We're more friends now than ever, and he surprises us more by stopping by on a scooter ride or when he's out for a drive.  Laughs at the frustrations I'm experiencing or the level of activity that always seems to surround families with children.  I think he laughs because he knows we're making it through just fine.

just like he taught us.  Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Thoughts on designing a typeface for the Bible

When designing a Bible typeface, what considerations come to mind? Legibility, character count, beauty? What's most important?

This article references the article about Lucerna, the font designed for the New Living Translation Bible.  The answers are in response to one student's questions about typeface design for Bibles.  In 2006, the typeface Lucerna first appeared in the New Living Translation Bible, Second Edition.  it has since been used in the Life Application Bible featuring the NLTse, the New King James Version, and the New International Version Bible (NIV).

In fact, readers say "I find this Bible easy to read without straining the eyes, with large clear print."
Considerations for designing a typeface for a specific application such as a Bible have to take into account legibility, character count and beauty, but I don't think one is necessarily more important than the other.  They all work together to solve a problem.

There are different Bible layouts: single column and multi-column.  A typeface that will work well for multi-column won't work as well in a single column.  Lucerna and Veritas are reduced and narrow width fonts (respectively), designed to solve specific problems.  For maximum readability, shorter line lengths benefit from a reduced-width font, but not necessarily a narrow font.  The reduced width characters will allow for a word or two more per line, enhancing the reader's ability to read the text without having to stumble through only a few words before the eye has to return to the beginning of the next line (a struggle for poor readers, from my observations).  A narrow font enhances the verticality of the strokes, which leads the eye to move up and down, rather than horizontally.

Lucerna emphasizes the top of the x-height, to enhance the horizontality of the typeface, in an attempt to lead the eye horizontally along the line rather than vertically.

Does the psychology of typefaces play a role?

Do some typefaces give you a headache after reading them for a long time? Do typefaces influence a reader's behavior?  Can a typeface make the text more difficult or easier to read?  If so, what are the qualities that make it more legible, more readable?

The psychology of typefaces plays a role in the designer’s mind.  By the time the Bible is complete, so many other choices have been made that the typeface selection either enhances or diminishes the reader’s experience.

Shouldn’t the life-changing power of God’s word be as accessible to all level of readers as possible?  Would a bible typeset in Comic Sans be easy to read, and could you take it seriously?  (Although, I would like to see a bible typeset in ITC Coventry.

Should a Bible typeface be "invisible" to the reader?

It shouldn’t be invisible, but it shouldn’t distract the reader from the message, but at the same time the typeface is a work of art that is an expression of whomever created it and seeks to be honoring to God. That is my particular opinion. I have designed the two typeface families (Veritas/Lucerna) with the goal that the Bible would be typeset in them.  With that consideration, the typeface should not distract the reader from the text and should make it easier to read. It should make the Word seem familiar and inviting.  It should have a distinctive visual character in and of itself, because when it’s bigger on a page it needs to be beautiful as a work of art, but also needs to be appropriate to the message.

If there are at least some psychological effects, should we try to match the "mood" of the typeface with the message?

In a long text, what would it accomplish?  The Bauhaus style of expressive/emotive typography is best for headlines and short passages.  Have you ever seen Tim Bott’s work?  (www.timbotts.com)  The use of expressive typography or calligraphy can enhance a short passage, clarify the meaning, enhance the meaning or illuminate it to a reader.  But can you imaging reading en entire Bible like this?  It would be very tiring and tedious.  The words need to be more important than the typeface.

Is there any room to use more than one typeface (or layout) in a Bible - different fonts for different types of passages (poetry, law, epistles, etc.)?

There are historical guidelines and precedent for the use of type and professional-looking typography, as well as standards that book publishers follow.  Using different typefaces for different sections would look chaotic and disrupt any continuity for the serious reader of scripture.  Continuity in book publishing (which is what a Bible is after all) is of the utmost importance.  Publishers have tried using layout variations thinking that a more dynamic design will make the Bible more appealing to attention-deprived individuals (ie teenagers and children), but it’s more marketing than anything else.  An attention-deprived culture needs color and variation in order to retain its attention and engage it.

Contemporary Bible design in some instances is like trying to teach a pig to dance.  It’s a waste of the teacher’s time and it irritates the pig.  Nobody comes to a saving knowledge of Christ because of the color of ink or the page layout – but by being able to read, hear and understand God’s Word without distraction.  Changing type, especially in a text passage, diminishes readability.

Did it take you longer to read that passage?  Ultimately, readability is what's important.

Please note, this type of project is not for the faint of heart.  It took 18 months!

balancing the needs of cause, volunteers and donors

As I continue to work with nonprofits, being aware of the relationship between the cause (or mission) and stakeholders (ie donors and volunteers) is as vital to an organization's purpose as is the cause itself.

You'll agree that most nonprofits fall into the categories of

• paid staff and rely heavily on affinity for the cause, volunteers and donors
• paid staff and rely heavily on affinity for the cause and donors

As with any brand, the volunteer and donor experience builds affinity (why I love the cause) and leads to more desire to volunteer, more reasons to give.  A virtuous cycle.

Any nonprofit must balance its desire to achieve its mission and fulfill the cause, with the need to ensure its volunteers have a superb experience volunteering, and that donors feel as if their gifts and contributions are valued and recognize them for it.  It all boils down to relationships.  The cause and your mission may not move forward as effectively when the volunteers and donors don't feel appreciated.

Does your organization have a designated donor relations and volunteer relations coordinator?  Should it?  Of course, it depends on the size of your organization, and the number of volunteers it works with, and the relationship it has with its donors.

if you're not making the donor's and volunteer's experience a positive one, a great way to start is by saying thank you.  It's all part of cultivating and stewarding the most important external stakeholders you have.